British Deny Decision to Ban Sale of Chieftain Tanks to Israel

Officials sources said here today that Britain’s refusal to sell Chieftain tanks to Israel at this time did not imply a permanent ban on the sale of weapons to that country. The semi-official Cairo newspaper Al Ahram reported that Britain had assured Egypt that it would not sell weapons to Israel. The assurance was reportedly given by Goronwy Roberts, Minister of State of the Foreign Office at a meeting with Egyptian Ambassador El Feki last Friday. Mr. Roberts confirmed that Britain had not agreed to the sale of Chieftains to Israel.